Desafinado
“Desafinado” was originally a response to critics who claimed that the bossa nova genre was created for singers who can’t sing. English language lyrics were written by Jon Hendricks and “Jessie Cavanaugh” (a pseudonym used by The Richmond Organisation). Another English lyric, more closely based on the original Portuguese lyric (but not a translation) was written by Gene Lees, and appears on some recordings as well.
Chart performance
The version by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd (from the album Jazz Samba) was a major hit in 1962, reaching number 15 and number 4 on Billboard′s pop and easy-listening charts, respectively; their definitive rendering also reached number 11 in the UK. In Canada the song was co-charted with the Grammy nominated version by Pat Thomas where they reached No. 14.
Desafinado loosely translates to out of tune.
Lyrics – Click to open
Original Portuguese
Se voc disser que eu desafino amor Saiba que isso em mim provoca imensa dor S privilegiados tm ouvido igual ao seu Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu Se voc insiste em classificar Meu comportamento de anti-musical Eu mesmo mentindo devo argumentar Que isto bossa-nova, isto muito natural O que voc no sabe nem sequer pressente Que os desafinados tambm tm um corao Fotografei voc na minha Roleiflex Revelou-se a sua enorme ingratido S no poder falar assim do meu amor Este o maior que voc pode encontrar Voc com sua msica esqueceu o principal Que no peito dos desafinados No fundo do peito bate calado Que no peito dos desafinados Tambm bate um corao
In English
Love is like a never ending melody
Poets have compared it to a symphony
A symphony conducted by the lighting of the moon
But our song of love is slightly out of tune . .
Once your kisses raised me to a fever pitch
Now the orchestration doesn’t seem so rich
Seems to me you’ve changed the tune we used to sing
Like the bossa nova love should swing . .
We used to harmonize two souls in perfect time
Now the song is different and the words don’t even rhyme
‘Cause you forgot the melody our hearts would always croon
What good’s a heart that’s slightly out of tune?
Tune your heart with mine the way it used to be
Join with me in harmony and sing a song of love
We’re bound to get in tune again before too long
There’ll be no Desafinado when your heart belongs to me completely
Then you won’t be slightly out of tune, you’ll sing along with me!
iReal Chart – Click to Open
